Table 2

Size and speed of past and proposed minimum-wage increases

Year after increase
 Before increase 1 2 3 4 5 Total
To $12.00
Nominal minimum wage $7.25 $8.00 $9.00 $10.00 $11.00 $12.00
Nominal dollar $0.75 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $4.75
Nominal percent 10.3% 12.5% 11.1% 10.0% 9.1% 65.5%
Real percent 8.0% 10.0% 8.6% 7.5% 6.5% 47.6%
To $10.10 (Harkin–Miller)
Nominal minimum wage $7.25 $8.20 $9.15 $10.10
Nominal dollar $0.95 $0.95 $0.95 $2.85
Nominal percent 13.1% 11.6% 10.4% 39.3%
Real percent 11.3% 10.4% 8.0% 32.7%
2007–2009 increases
Nominal minimum wage $5.15 $5.85 $6.55 $7.25
Nominal dollar $0.70 $0.70 $0.70 $2.10
Nominal percent 13.6% 12.0% 10.7% 40.8%
Real percent 10.5% 7.8% 11.1% 32.3%
1967–1968 increases
Nominal minimum wage $1.25 $1.40 $1.60
Nominal dollar $0.15 $0.20 $0.35
Nominal percent 12.0% 14.3% 28.0%
Real percent 7.8% 9.4% 17.8%

Note: The increase to $10.10 calculation assumes the first increase took place in 2014; the increase to $12.00 assumes the first increase takes place in 2016.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Fair Labor Standards Act and amendments, Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, and Raise the Wage Act of 2015

Copy the code below to embed this chart on your website.

This chart appears in:

Previous chart: «

Next chart: »